Obama Lauds Housing Market, Calls for Immigration Reform

By Taylor Pineda

Regardless of political stance, an honored and proud 2014 senior class of Desert Vista students looked refined and polished as they made their way in to the basketball gymnasium to take part in President Barak Obama’s speech on Tuesday. A dynamic mix of elected officials, public engaged citizens, students and housing made up the eager crowd that heard Obama’s speech on the housing economy and promoting the middle class.

In the opening of President Obama’s speech he highlighted the cornerstones of what it means to be in the middle class of America: “A good job with good wages. A home to call your own. A good education. Affordable health care that’s there for you when you get sick.  A secure retirement even if you’re not rich.  And more chances for folks to earn their way into the middle class as long as they’re willing to work for it.”

Appealing to middle-class citizens, the president directed attention to the positive changes the American economy has seen after overcoming the recession and from a home-owners standpoint.

“Today, our housing market is healing.  Home prices are rising at the fastest pace in seven years.  Sales are up nearly 50 percent.  Construction is up nearly 75 percent.  New foreclosures are down by nearly two-thirds.  Millions of families have been able to come up for air, because they’re no longer underwater on their mortgages.  And even though we’re not where we were need to be yet, Phoenix has led one of the biggest comebacks in the country.  Home prices have risen by nearly 20 percebt over the last year,” President Obama stated.

A positive economic growth fueled by the housing market is something that we all hope for.

 President Obama made a direct call to action of pending legislation reform in a state divided by different opinions on the issue, stating:

“It’s pretty simple: when more people buy homes, and play by the rules, home values go up for everybody.  According to one recent study, the average homeowner has already seen the value of their home boosted by thousands of dollars, just because of immigration.  Now, with the help of your senators, John McCain and Jeff Flake, the Senate has already passed a bipartisan immigration bill that’s got the support of CEOs, labor, and law enforcement.  And considering what this bill can do for homeowners, that’s just one more reason Republicans in the House should stop dragging their feet and get this done.”